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Longer terms proposed for insular federal court judges
Legislation would insulate judges from political pressure
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) introduced Friday legislation to extend the term of office for U.S. District Court judges in insular areas from 10 to 15 years. The “U.S. Territorial Federal Judges Improvement Act of 2015” is co-sponsored by Delegates Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) and Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands).
“Judges are expected to interpret the law and hand down their decisions without fear or favor, and regardless of public criticism or reprisal from the elected branches,” Sablan said. “Longer terms are conducive to this standard of justice.”
Sablan also is seeking the extended term to put the insular judges on a similar footing as other U.S. judges.
“The 15 years I am proposing for our insular U.S. District Court judges is the same term as other legislatively-established court judges, such as those of the U.S. Tax Court and Court of Federal Claims,” Sablan said.
The U.S. Territorial Federal Judges Improvement Act of 2015 would apply to current federal district court judges in the Northern Marianas, Guam, and the Virgin Islands whose terms have not expired and to judges who are confirmed after the legislation’s date of enactment.
Like all U.S. District Court judges, the judges serving in the insular areas are nominated by the President, usually with recommendations from the Members of Congress who represent the state in which the court is located. The President’s nominee must then be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
In January 2011 Sablan recommended Ramona V. Manglona to President Obama to fill the court seat in the Northern Mariana Islands. The President accepted the recommendation, made the nomination, and Manglona was confirmed by the Senate in July 2011.
Manglona is the first person from the Northern Marianas to be so nominated and confirmed to the federal bench in the islands. (Office of the Delegate)
